Peters



(No Model.)

Hand Truck.

Patented Jan. 18, I881.

Fig '/l [five/aim: W M 1 @44 4 dncwwx N ETERS, FNOTO-LITHOGHAPNER, WAsmNmoN, o

. 2Sheets-Sheet 1. E. J. LIEYBURN.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. J. LBYBURN. Hand Truck.

Patented Jan. 18, 1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrree.

EDWARD J. LEYBURN, OF FREDERIOKSBURG, VIRGINIA.

HAND-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,683, dated January 18, 1881. Application filed November 20, 1880. (No model.)

1 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD J. LEYBURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fredericksburg, in the county of Spottsylvania and State of Virginia, have im'ented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Trucks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, ref erence being bad to the accompanying drawin gs, forming a partof this specification, and the letters of reference marked thereon, similar letters throughoutthe several figures indieating similar parts, and in which drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved hand-truck having a load-bed or platform, A. which is capable of being either elevated above or closed down upon the longest side of a triangnlarly-formed rigid supportiiigfraine or foundation ready to receive a loadas, for example, a barrel of flour or a dry-goods box preparator T to delivering the same to a higher place of deposit from the platform after the latter has been elevated from its closed posi tion, as shown in Fig. 1, to its raised position, as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the platform elevated, as in Fig. 3, ready to deliver a load from the platform. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical central section of Fig. 2. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views corresponding with the views shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, but with the platform A provided with means whereby the loading of a cannon or other great gun with a very heavy cannonball or other ordnance projectile is facilitated.

Having reference to Figs. '1, 2, and 3, A indicates theload-bed or platform of my i m proved truck, composed of longitudinal side pieces, a a, and cross-ties a a and a the same being framed together in a suitable manner, and with the side pieces at their rear end terminating in handles a. At the forward end of the platform A a metal plate, as at O, is applied thereto, the same as is usually applied to the forward end of the body of the ordinary truck in common use. The platform A, at or near its rear end, is connected with its foundation-support beneath by means of a pivotal connection, 70, upon which it articulates when it is raised from its position shown in Fig. 1 to its position as shown in Fig. 3. It is also provided at its rear end with a shaft, as at I, having a hand-crank, Z, and with a ratchet-wheel, r, firmly secured to the shaft. A pawl, as at W, is made to engage with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, as shown.

The foundation-support of the platform consists of two triangularly-formed side pieces, 1*] E, framed together by cross-ties n. Upon the uppermost portion of these side pieces a metal plate, 7c, is securely applied, through which a pivotal connection is made with the platform at k. The side pieces, E IE, it will be seen, consist, in part, of an upper inclined rail or portion, or, which the longitudinal side pieces, a a, of the platform shut down upon when, as in Fig. l, the platform A is depressed to receive a load. The side pieces, E E, I construct either in one piece of material throughout or of more than one; but whether made of one or more than one piece or part, as at n n a, theyconstitute, when framed together by crossties n, a fixed and rigid foundation-support for the platform A. This foundation support I mount upon the axles w and 20 of wheels w 20 as shown, or in any proper manner to secure the proper poise of the truck and facilitate its handling.

L is a frame, composed of side pieces, I, and cross-ties 1 as shown, and is made to loosely articulate upon the axle w, as represented in the several figures in the drawings, or in any proper manner. To the forward ends of the side pieces, 1*, of the frame L a shaft, as at F, is applied so as to be capable of rotating and at thesame time work beneath and against the under side of the side pieces, a a, of the platform A, and be held in such juxtaposition with the side pieces, a a, by guide-rods i i, which have their ends secured in the crosspieces a and a of the platform, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3.

The shaft F, near its ends it h, (shown in dotted lines,) is provided with collars, as at h, which impinge against the inside surface I of the longitudinal side pieces, a a, of the platform, and so prevent any longitudinal displacement of the shaft during either the raising or the lowering of the platform A. The shaft F is also provided with a chain wheel, as at g, which rotates with the shaft and receives around it a chain or rope, m, one end of which is firmly attached to the cross tie a of the platform, while its other end is attached to the shaft 1, so that when the hand-crank l is turned in the proper direction the rope or chain on will be wound upon the shaft l, thereby drawing the shaft F rearwardly along under and against the platform, and so raising the platform A and the swinging fra-meLfrom their positions shown in Fig.1 to their positions shown in Fig. 3. During the act of raising the platform the pawl T will freely pass over the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 0"; but when the crank Z is no longer turned the pawl will instantly engage with the teeth of the wheel a and hold the platform in any position to which it may have been raised, and when the pawl is disengaged from the wheel r the platform will automatically rcsume its position, as shown in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 the triangularly-formed foundation-support for the platform Ais shown in a modified form, the rear wheels, to, being brought farther forward from the rear portion of the truck. In these figures the metal plate 0 (shown in Figs. 1,2, and 3) is dispensed with, and the forward end of the platform A provided with a proper bed to receive and sustain a cannon-ball or elongated projectile preparatory to elevating it into line with the mouth of a cannon, as indicated in Fig. 5. In these Figs. 4, 5, and 6, I is a bed for projectiles to rest upon at the forward end of the platform A, as shown. This bed is constructed with concave rollers r, as shown, one of which, 0;, is provided with suitable flanges e on its periphery, and with a hand-crank, y, upon its axle, whereby the projectile P can be readily thrust or moved from its bed 1 into the mouth M of a cannon, as signified in Fi 5. An upwardly-extended portion, as at Z, of the projectile-bed I is provided with upright rods 2, between which a crow'bar or other proper implement can be inserted, either to eifect the forcing of the projectile off from its bed into the cannon or assist the operator of the crank y in so doing.

A flanged roller, 1;, and crank y may be applied at both ends of the bed 1?, if desired, and so allow the projectile to be moved into the mouth of a cannon from either side of the platform A.

Having thus described my improved handtruck, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A hand-truck having a triangularlyformed rigid foundation-support, upon which a platform or load-bed is connected or hinged to permit of the elevation and depression of the platform, and with the longest inclined side of the foundationsupport, serving as a rest upon which to sustain the platform and give the platform its proper pitch or inclination when shut down, ready to receivea load, substantially as described.

2. A hand-truck having a platform which is capable of being elevated upon and up from its foundation-support, and provided with a bed, substantially as described, upon which to receive a cannon-ball orproj ectile for ordnance, and whereby the ball or projectile may be delivered into the mouth of a cannon or other great gun, substantially as set forth.

EDWARD JENN ER LEYBURN.

In presence of J NO. A. ENGLISH, WILLIAM BRowN. 

